Spring California Naturalist Course 2024
Stewards is pleased to host the UC California Naturalist Certification Program. This 9 week, 50+ hour class will introduce you to the wonders the Sonoma Coast and share how you can help steward California’s natural communities. Through the University of California Naturalist Program, participants become active members in a growing movement of conservation, community science, and volunteer activism.
Coastal Sonoma County’s unique ecosystem has been described as the place where Canada meets Mexico. Where temperate rainforest shakes hands with scrubby chaparral. This class integrates online lectures with in person field trips that explore towering redwood forests, oak woodlands, coastal prairie, and riparian forests.
The California Naturalist Program combines science curriculum, journaling, guest lecturers, daily field study, hands on experience, and local cultural knowledge to promote environmental literacy and stewardship. Discovery and action will help build a better understanding of the places you call home.
Instructors: David Berman (Environmental Educator), Meghan Walla-Murphy (wildlife ecologist) & guest lecturers (TBA)
Time and Location: Classes held Tuesday nights (6:30-9:00PM) on Zoom. Field trips on Weekends (9AM-3PM) Location TBA for field trips.
Course Schedule:
Feb 20 Intro to students, instructors, and class – review schedule
Feb 24 Field trip: Armstrong Woods
Feb 27 CA Geography, Biomes Ecosystems, CA Naturalist and Journaling
Mar 5 iNaturalist/Capstone intro/Geology
Mar 12 Soil & Weather/Climate
Mar 19 Water/Beavers
March 22-24 Camping trip – Sonoma Coast
Mar 26 Plants/Tending the Wild
April 2 Trees/Forests/Fire
April 9 Interpretation & Oceans
April 14 Field trip location TBA
April 16 Wildlife
April 23 Capstone presentations & UC portal introduction *special Wednesday class
April 24 Finish capstones and graduation celebration
Cost: $456 for members and $570 for non-members. Scholarships are available! Please inquire at [email protected].
For more information please contact Stewards at: (707) 869-9177 or [email protected].
Contact course instructors here: David Berman — Meghan Walla-Murphy
Course handbook can be purchased in our e-store.
Payment/refund policy:
1/3 due at registration. Balance paid by first class. No refunds will be issued after February 6, 2024. All refunds subject to 10% processing fee.
Directions when making a partial payment:
Before signing up for this class, it is highly recommended that you first obtain a Stewards membership!
You will save 20% on all educational classes offered by Stewards, as well as any required class books, and all retail products at our Visitor Centers.
Memberships start at just $25 for students/over 65 and $35 for all others. Click here to join.
- Review your reservation. Pick the number of people attending. Click “Review Reservation”.
- Accept the terms, and click “Make Reservation”
- On the next page, you will click “Make Reservation” again.
- In “Balance Due” you will type in the amount or money you plan to put down to hold your place in the class. 1/3rd is the minimum payment. For Stewards members, 1/3rd of $456.00 will be $152.00. For non-members, you will pay 1/3rd of $570.00, which will be $190.00.
- Click “Proceed to Checkout” where you can put in your credit card.
- The remainder is due before the first class. Thank you!
Click here to print this flyer!
Sorry, but this event is sold out.